May 28, 2011 - 11 Night Mediterranean Sailing from Barcelona

[pj-atsea]

The cost to change our flight is huge- more than the cruise!. So we are sticking to our Friday departure and hoping for the best..
For those who are leaving tomorrow and Thursday- safe travels.
pj

 

[micknstang]

has anyone ever heard of disney changing you room due to maintenance? Well it has happened We were suppose to be in a Secret pole hole room and now are being force to a inside room with no outside view. I don't think this is fair, but Disney say it is same cat that we paid for. so we opt'd to do an upgrade to a cat 9a with a normal port hole cause we are not going to be stuck in an inside room for 11 days. Once we get to port we will complain some more to see if we can get that upgrade comp'd. so new room number 7000

 

[Canadian_Koda]

2 pm sounds good to us! See you in all in a few more days!

2 pm is good! Do we have any way of finding each other there? I'm guessing the pool will be pretty busy. I have so much left to do it is really stressing me out. But I'm also getting really excited.

Rachel

 

[sktrstangs]

Talk about added stress! Got messages from Disney to call them about a cabin change. After much discussions with various Disney reps this evening, our cabin #5522 (hidden porthole) had to be given up due to a maintenance issue and will not be available during the cruise. After not satisfied with just an inside stateroom with no windows, we put up extra $$ to have an outside ocean view cabin #7000. Not totally happy with Disney and will be taking this up with a CM at check in. Please note our new cabin change is 7000. Scott and Jason

 

[kaceyisme]

has anyone ever heard of disney changing you room due to maintenance? Well it has happened We were suppose to be in a Secret pole hole room and now are being force to a inside room with no outside view. I don't think this is fair, but Disney say it is same cat that we paid for. so we opt'd to do an upgrade to a cat 9a with a normal port hole cause we are not going to be stuck in an inside room for 11 days. Once we get to port we will complain some more to see if we can get that upgrade comp'd. so new room number 7000

Talk about added stress! Got messages from Disney to call them about a cabin change. After much discussions with various Disney reps this evening, our cabin #5522 (hidden porthole) had to be given up due to a maintenance issue and will not be available during the cruise. After not satisfied with just an inside stateroom with no windows, we put up extra $$ to have an outside ocean view cabin #7000. Not totally happy with Disney and will be taking this up with a CM at check in. Please note our new cabin change is 7000. Scott and Jason

Sorry guys!! That's an unpleasant surprise at such a late date! At least you weren't in the stateroom and had a problem once you were all moved in. I think they should have given you the upgraded cabin for no charge.

 

[calihannah]

Following the volcano-related weather anxiously from California as well...we are flying to Frankfurt, departing on Thursday from CA and then connecting on to Barcelona on Friday. Fingers crossed and crossed again, because being stuck in the Frankfurt airport with a 4-year-old who desperately wants to be "on the Disney boat" and her 6-month-old sister would be disastrous!

 

[Boomerang4]

Anyone else get booted off the "Boat Ride to Zingaro Park" in Palermo? It's a DCL tour. Got a call yesterday that the excursion had been cancelled. The message said we could rebook another option up until Thursday. Anyone else run into this? : I noticed it had disappeared from my reservation before I got the call and I was able to rebook on the website and it shows currently. Not sure what is going on here, but I assume it's cancelled and the website is not as current as the phone call (i.e. they haven't taken the option down off the Port Adventure choices)...

 

[annichan]

Only two days to go, and still watching the volcano news very anxiously ... Our local airport, where we will hopefully be flying from on Friday, is now completely closed. When I believe the predictions here, it looks very likely to reopen again, but I'm also seeing a new ash concentrationon Friday. I hate this guessing game!
At least, those charts show the cloud nowhere really near Barcelona until the weekend, so I guess that's one less worry.

 

[LaEsmralda]

Anyone else get booted off the "Boat Ride to Zingaro Park" in Palermo? It's a DCL tour. Got a call yesterday that the excursion had been cancelled. The message said we could rebook another option up until Thursday. Anyone else run into this? : I noticed it had disappeared from my reservation before I got the call and I was able to rebook on the website and it shows currently. Not sure what is going on here, but I assume it's cancelled and the website is not as current as the phone call (i.e. they haven't taken the option down off the Port Adventure choices)...

Ughhh We didn't get a phone call and I don't know if they sent my husband an email but thanks for the head's up. I just checked and they removed it from our excursion list. First Sweet Corsica has no wine tour and now the Boat Ride is completely removed. Now we have to decide between the farm or the beach.
When they say to bring a beach towel, does that mean that we have to get one from the ship or do I have to bring one from home? Sorry if that is a silly question but had to ask.

 

[DopeyFan1966]

Ughhh We didn't get a phone call and I don't know if they sent my husband an email but thanks for the head's up. I just checked and they removed it from our excursion list. First Sweet Corsica has no wine tour and now the Boat Ride is completely removed. Now we have to decide between the farm or the beach.
When they say to bring a beach towel, does that mean that we have to get one from the ship or do I have to bring one from home? Sorry if that is a silly question but had to ask.

We got the phone call last night also. Can't decide what to do now either, but will make a decision tonight and rebook something else. I was not happy at all, but at least we aren't being moved around to other cabins because of maintenance. Sorry that happened to you guys (micknstang).

Good Luck to all and we will see you in 3 days.

 

[dylan'smom]

Hi everyone!!

We are on the TA and finally got a room assignment...but it's handicap room so may change if anyone wants it...so...

As of right now we are in 7131, with main dining...looking forward to meeting the new group.

As for the room changes...a LOT of repairs/construction going on now. There were NO upgrades offered at the port due to their decision to just work on these rooms.

The room changes have gone differently for different people -- some got upgraded about half way through from Interiors to verandahs!! Others got the same category & were not pleased....hope you have better results on board.

See you all soon - I'll try to get on again but interent is sloooooowwwwww as usual.


.

 

[Mog's Mom]

Wow! We're off to the airport this afternoon and will be in Barcelona 16 hours from now!!! We booked onboard our last cruise in Feb. 2010 so this has been a long time coming!!

Speedy and safe travel to all and we'll see you on Sat.!

 

[dylan'smom]

Oh...another thing about the maintenance & construction...the lines were long at GS & people were upset when it started last week, but it has died down a bit now. The proverbial sh@t hit the fan though when it started because there was some major stuff - tile replacement, plumbing overhauls, chemical smells, jack hammer-like sounds...

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up as to the lines & complaints at GS. An odd thing...one of our group's cruisers did not complain at all about the noise & smells (even though it bugged her) and was bumped up from inside to verandah, while a very loud angry person was moved laterally...same category...go figure!!

But....everything else is great, Pirate's premEAR was awesome, smooth crossing & warm weather here in Europe so far.

Safe travels to everyone!!!!


.

 

[Simian]

Oh...another thing about the maintenance & construction...the lines were long at GS & people were upset when it started last week, but it has died down a bit now. The proverbial sh@t hit the fan though when it started because there was some major stuff - tile replacement, plumbing overhauls, chemical smells, jack hammer-like sounds...

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up as to the lines & complaints at GS. An odd thing...one of our group's cruisers did not complain at all about the noise & smells (even though it bugged her) and was bumped up from inside to verandah, while a very loud angry person was moved laterally...same category...go figure!!

But....everything else is great, Pirate's premEAR was awesome, smooth crossing & warm weather here in Europe so far.

Safe travels to everyone!!!!


.

Thanks for the heads-up! That does sound quite alarming. I understand they need to do maintenance, but still... not an ideal time to be doing it! Hopefully they're almost done now.
Interesting point about the complaints. I've long since learned that there is an art to complaining. It has to be done persuasively, but with a smile and in a calm voice, especially if the person you're complaining to is just working on a service desk and isn't personally at fault for the problem. They might well have the power to help you - but if you make their working day more miserable by shouting at them, chances are they will lose sympathy for your case. I remember one time being bumped off an overbooked flight. While I was calmly at the desk asking if there was any chance they could help me, a fellow passenger in the same position was shouting and threatening to sue the airline and even personally sue the blameless service desk staff... and so while he ended up being escorted away by security after a few minutes and was not helped at all, I was quietly thanked for my patience and understanding, put back onto the aircraft, and upgraded to business class

Meanwhile better news here in northern Europe - it seems that the volcano is now only venting steam, not ash, so as long as it stays that way everyone should be able to get to Barcelona on time without fear of cancelled or delayed flights

 

[DopeyFan1966]

What is everyone doing in Palermo????? We had to change our plans because Disney canceled the Boat Ride to Zingaro Park. So now we are going to Erice & Segesta.

Can't believe we are flying out tomorrow night!!!!

I'm hoping I don't forget anything.

 

[LaEsmralda]

What is everyone doing in Palermo????? We had to change our plans because Disney canceled the Boat Ride to Zingaro Park. So now we are going to Erice & Segesta.

Can't believe we are flying out tomorrow night!!!!

I'm hoping I don't forget anything.

I had my daughter pick between the Farm and the Beach and she asked me, "Are there going to be horses on the farm?" and I said "I don't think so, it said pigs, sheep and cows." She then quickly said, "Well if there are no horses, I want to go to the beach!" So Mondello Beach it is for us in Palermo.

We are all packed, except for last minute toiletries and carry on bags. I am so excited and nervous! LOL

 

[htmlkid]

What is everyone doing in Palermo????? We had to change our plans because Disney canceled the Boat Ride to Zingaro Park. So now we are going to Erice & Segesta.

Can't believe we are flying out tomorrow night!!!!

I'm hoping I don't forget anything.

We are doing the same excursion... happy there will be a friendly face on it with us!!!!

 

[kaceyisme]

For anyone staying at the Renaissance Airport hotel the night before the cruise, do you see how we get the airport shuttle to the hotel? I can't find any information on that on their website.

 

[pamela k]

For anyone staying at the Renaissance Airport hotel the night before the cruise, do you see how we get the airport shuttle to the hotel? I can't find any information on that on their website.

I phoned the hotel last week to ask and they said to phone them when we clear customs and they will pick us up.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Made it from Houston to Montreal. Now waiting in the terminal for the long flight to Barcelona. 2 young children... Wish us luck